AUBURN — After a discussion with an attorney Monday, the Lake Auburn Watershed Protection Commission will recommend to city officials that no new development should be approved in the watershed under recently-enacted ordinance changes for at least the next 90 days.
According to board chair Evan Cyr, the board will also seek peer review of recent watershed studies, including the most recent study commissioned by Auburn, which was conducted by FB Environmental. He said the commission is also seeking “peer review of the data and various studies pertaining to the recently rezoned parcels on Gracelawn Road in Auburn.”
The LAWPC board held a special meeting Monday to consult with its attorney after both LAWPC and the Auburn Water District received “demand letters” from Lewiston administration asking for action to halt a series of proposed changes in Auburn. Officials there are concerned that new development could lead to water quality issues that could force the two cities to build a costly filtration system.
On Monday, the Auburn City Council tabled a vote on new septic standards in the watershed, but in March approved a rezoning of 148 acres off Gracelawn Road that had long been considered part of the watershed. The recent lake study recommended removing the land from the watershed, and the rezoning will allow for a range of commercial development.
According to Cyr, the board’s attorney is drafting a letter to the city and the Auburn Water District that recommends “they not allow any new development in the watershed beyond the scope of what was already previously allowed for the next 90 days.”
He said commissioners defined “previously allowed” as from before March 3, “essentially asking that development only be allowed under the previous standards and not pursuant to any ordinance changes made within the last 60 days.” The Gracelawn rezoning was approved March 22.
A petition effort has since been launched in an attempt to repeal the rezoning.
The Auburn Water District board of trustees told Lewiston officials on April 21 that it would also be consulting with legal counsel, but no further communications have been released since.
Not long after the “demand” letters were sent, three members of the LAWPC board resigned, including former Chairman Steve French. Also resigning were Sid Hazelton, Auburn Water District superintendent, and Kevin Gagne, Lewiston Water & Sewer superintendent, who served as co-clerks of the board.
French has not disclosed reasons for resigning. Lewiston City Administrator Heather Hunter said because Lewiston’s Public Works director also serves on the board, “the change provides better division of capacity without potential conflicts.”
Cyr, who also serves on the Auburn Planning Board, was then named interim chairman.
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